Shelf supporting stud, knob, or the like



Nov. 14, 1939. TlNNERMAN X 2,179,603

SHELF SUPPORTING STUD, KNOB, OR THE LIKE Filed April 20, 1938 EEUHEE A- 77NNERMAN Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES SHELF SUPPORTINEHSKTUD, KNOB, OR THE George A. Tinnerman, Rocky River, Ohio, as-

signor to Albert E. Tinnerman, Cleveland,

Ohio

Application April 20, 1938, Serial No. 203,205

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in studs, knobs or the like, in general, and is directed, more particularly, to an improved shelf supporting device for use with sliding shelves or trays employed in refrigerators, storage cabinets and other structures embodying a sheet metal supporting part or wall surface.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved shelf supporting stud, or the W like, the stud being provided with a connecting stem designed for mounting the device onto a sheet metal wall member entirely from one side without the need of special backing or retaining means at the reverse side thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved shelf supporting stud, knob or the like molded from plastic, non-resonant material suciently hard in its completed form to resist wear due to the sliding of the shelf and comprising an integral connecting stem having a substantial snap-stud fastening engagement in a socket opening provided in a sheet metal member for mounting the supporting stud thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide in such a shelf supporting stud or knob, an arrangement whereby the same may be rigidly attached to an enameled sheet metal wall and firmly secured against the enameled surface thereof without cracking or defacing the enamel either upon the initial application thereof or after a period of use in a completed installation.

The use of plastic, non-resonant material for shelf supporting studs is especially advantageous in the case of insulated cabinets wherein an inher metal lining is employed, inasmuch as the supporting stud may then be mounted directly on the lining and put to use without setting up undesirable variations upon movement of the shelf thereon. This advantage may be appreciated when it is considered that the lining in a refrigerator cabinet, for example, is usually of such large plane surface as to act as a substantial sounding board amplifying initially slight vibrations which occur in the case of metal to metal contact between the shelf and a metallic supporting stud.

ldolded plastic parts such as the supporting studs, knobs or the like referred to herein have as their main ingredient some form of thermoplastic material such as resin, shellac, Celluloid, synthetic rubber or the like, which is mixed with a filler, coloring matter and lubricant, placed into a suitable mold, and subjected to heat and/or pressure or both, simultaneously. The plastic mix is. thus transformed into a homogeneous of materials.

solid mass which when subjected to a curing cycle is sufliciently hard for any reasonable required service and is also non-resonant and impervious to liquids.

Hardened plastic shelf supporting studs and 5 slmiltr objects thus provided are possessed of certain properties and characteristics which make them more useful and advantageous in any number of applications than the more common type Such properties, for example, 10 are exceptional beauty, unusual dielectric properties, relatively high impact strength, high heat resistance, chip-, rust-, corrosion-, and shatterproofness and extreme hardness, toughness and durability.

It is the property of extreme hardness, coupled with brittleness, which has made it dificult and in some applications prohibitive to provide an effective, satisfactory, inexpensive means for securing, connecting or mounting a plastic shelf 20 supporting stud, knob, or the like, onto a sheet metal wall surface. And accordingly, it has heretofore been necessary to provide the plastic stud with some form of screw-threaded fastening means such as threaded metallic inserts molded 25 into the plastic part, or screw-threaded fasten ing devices driven into tapped holes provided therein.

However, threaded metallic inserts molded with the plastic stud not only are expensive but are 30 otherwise objectionable in that they make for added shipping weight, require longer curing cycles for hardening, and involve greatly increased costs in production for special forms and expensive molding equipment which are neces- 35 sary to insure that the plastic composition, when being flowed into the mold, will not disturb the position of the metallic insert in the completed stud or similar object.

In the use of screw-threaded fastening devices 40 in plastic parts, a hole must be bored, the hole tapped, and the fastening device laboriously threaded into the tapped hole. Not only is this procedure objectionable by reason of the expense involved in the several time-consuming manu- 45 facturing operations required, but also because an inferior, unsatisfactory product frequently results due to the fact that the screw threads thus provided in the plastic part easily cross and tend to break down quickly, and, most often, are im- 50 properly aligned due to the infinite number of porous, rough spots, thin-walled gas pockets, and other mold imperfections which preventaccurate and precise threading therein.

A most important problem involved in the use 55 of such supporting studs resides in the fact that the sheet metal wall surface or lining, as in a refrigerator, is usually accessible from one side only in completed installation, wherefor the securing means provided for the stud must be such as to be capable of being applied to rigid, positive fastening engagement entirely from the accessible side. To this end, the present invention contemplates generally the provision of a connecting stem formed integrally on the supporting stud in the molding operation and comprising, what may be termed, a yieldable shank structure having a substantial snap-stud fastening engagement in a socket opening provided in the sheet metal part in mounting the stud in fixed, rigid relation thereon.

A more specific object therefor is to provide in such a plastic supporting stud having a mounting stem integrally provided thereon, an arrangement whereby said stem may be split to make it yieldable and otherwise expansible to positive, rigid engagement in a socket opening or aperture in the sheet metal wall to which it is attached.

Another object is to provide the connecting stem in such a supporting stud with means expanding or spreading the split stem sections thereof without materially weakening the same whereby further firm, positive engagement thereof within the socket opening is effected in rigidly mounting the stud. 4

Still another object is to provide simple, inexpensive and easily installed means for yieldingly spreading the split parts of the stem of the supporting stud, said means being arranged and designed to reinforce these parts and take the thrust so that the stem sections .will not become fractured or broken by their deflection under the strains of applying the same to the socket opening in the sheet metal wall member.

A still further object is to provide a spring wedging member or expander for insertion between the split parts of the stem, which member is so constructed as to exert a substantial wedging action to the split parts of the stem to rigid, positive engagement in applied position in the socket opening, and at the same time, reinforce the split parts of the stem both in the application thereof to the socket opening and in the applied mounted position of the supporting stud.

Further objects of the invention, and other new and useful features in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts, will be readiy apparent to those skilled in the art as a description thereof proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawing and in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the same, and in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates in perspective, an improved shelf supporting stud, knob, or the like, of the invention including the spring wedging member or expander shown about to be assembled to the connecting stem portion thereof;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section through a sheet metal wall, such as the lining of a refrigerator, showing the supporting stud and expander assembled therewith about to be applied to the socket opening therein, the stud being partly broken away to show the details of construction of the connecting stem thereof;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the position of the spring expander as the stem sections are ad-- vanced in the socket opening to mount the stud;

Fig. 4 shows the applied mounted position of the supporting stud on the sheet metal wall surface with the stem sections disposed in rigid, positive engagement in the socket opening;

Fig. 5 shows, in applied mounted position, a modified stud construction in which the stem is so designed as to provide for the necessary wedging and holding action of the stem sections in the socket opening.

Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive illustrate a further modifieation in which the spring wedging member or expander comprises a T-shaped head section adapted to effect an axial movement thereto for supplying a positive wedging action to the stem sections in applied mounted position, Fig. 6 showing this form of device about to be applied to a socket opening in the sheet metal wall;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the supporting stud of this form of the invention in applied mounted position;

. Fig. 8 is a perspective of the spring wedging member or expander per se; and,

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now, more particularly, to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawing,' a preferred form of shelf supporting stud is shown in connection with a fragment of a refrigerator lining or casing which, of course, may be a fragment of any suitable member to which it is desired to attach a stud, knob, or the like in accordance with the present invention. The lining is usually a sheet metal wall having a porcelain enameled surface which forms a highly desirable finish but renders the mounting of shelf supporting studs thereon a difficult problem in that cracking and chipping of the porcelain occurs all too frequently in the application of the securing means for such studs. A well known type of shelving comprises a parallel wire grid having a relatively heavy wire or red beading S, around the periphery thereof, this beading resting in the guideway intermediate spaced shoulders formed on the connecting stud, as shown in Fig. 4. In order that the supporting studs may be secured thereto, the lining or wall member I, is provided with apertures or socket openings 2 formed therein at determinately located points depending on the position it is desired that the shelf be supported in a completed installation. Such perforations are usually punched in the plate constituting the refrigerator lining or other wall member prior to the assembly thereof in a completed structure whereupon they become accessible from one side only; and it is this condition which makes it essential that the securing means for mounting the supporting stud be capable of installation to complete, positive, fastening engagement in a socket opening entirely from the accessible side.

As shown in Fig. 1, the shelf supporting stud I0, knob or the like, may assume the form of a substantial spool-shape having a groove in the body portion thereof providing spaced shoulders II, I? between which the shelf rod S may rest, the outer shoulder I2 preventing the shelf rod from sliding off the end'thereof'. Thus, the said shoulders ll, 12 of the shelf supporting stud present a substantial guideway for the shelf beading such that the shelf is freely movable thereon and sliding thereof is facilitated should it be desired to remove the shelf from the refrigerator for cleaning, etc. And inasmuch as the studs are preferably constructed of hardened plastic material, the same not only are strong and durable, but also non-resonant thereby permitting ready sliding of the shelf rod thereon without rattling,

lit

squeaks, or vibration such as results from sliding a shelf over metallic supporting studs.

In the use of such hardened plastic materials in providing the shelf supporting stud of the present invention, it is possible to mold the same, at little or no added cost, with an integral connecting stem'i5, and a flange or skirt l3 having a free edge serving as a substantial peripheral bearing surface H in a manner presently to be described. Preferably the stem I5 is so designed as to be partly received within the peripheral skirt it, it being quite obvious that the same may be of any suitable form or shape and, if desired may comprise an' extension of a plastic stud molded solid without a flange or skirt. The said stem is slotted as at 16, Fig. 1, to provide opposed, cooperating and relatively yieldable stem sections ii, it, the slot between said sections being provided for preferably in the molding operation, or in any other suitable manner thereafter as by a sawing operation or milling cut. The stem sections thus obtained are suitably grooved intermediate their lengths to provide substantial cam shoulders i9, 20 spaced axially from the bearing surface It, presented by the peripheral edge of skirt 113, a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the sheet metal part or refrigerator lining to which it is to be attached. The stem itself is preferably of a crosssection substantially equal to or slightly greater than the socket opening wherefor the cam shoulders it, 20 on the stem sections, when normally untensioned, have ready passage therethrough to engage at the reverse side of the support in the applied position of the stud. To facilitate application thereof, the stem sections are tapered from the area of said cam shoulders i9, 20 toward their extremities to present a substantial pilot which is readily received in the socket opening in the initial application of the device.

In order to maintain the split parts of the stem in expanded position rendering the cam shoulders iii, 2t thereon capable of positive fastening engagement in the socket opening into which they are applied, a spring wedging member designated generally 2!, Fig. 1, is inserted in the slot it between the stem sections ll, l8, and by its expansive force tends to hold the split stem sections spread apart when initially applied thereto substantially as illustrated in Fig. 2. Of utmost importance however, is the fact that the spring wedging member forms a reinforcement for the stem sections in the ai'ea in which they are weakened by the grooves in providing the cam shoulders it, 20, aforesaid. Thus, when strain is put upon the stem in applying the same to the socket.

opening 2, in the wall member as shown in Fig. 2, the stem sections are supported and reinforced especially in the area of the grooves, their weakest points, to avoid the possibility of becoming broken or fractured by the necessary bending and flexing taking place therein during the application of the supporting stud to mounted position illustrated in Fig. 4.

The spring wedging member 2|, Fig. 1, may be formed in any suitable manner but is preferably constructed of a small, inexpensive section of spring metal bent into a substantial V-shape to provide a pair of spaced spring arms 22, 23, which together form the desired wedging element. The extremity of one of said arms may be bent angularly to contact the other in providrelation and otherwise increasing the rigidity and effective wedging action of the device.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the elements comprising the shelf supporting stud of the present invention are easily and quickly assembled in a completed installation simply by inserting the wedging element 2|, Fig. l, in the slot I6 between the shank sections 51, I8 to hold the same in their initial expanded relation as shown in Fig. 2 in which the extremities of the stem sections are spaced slightly less than the size of socket opening 2 and the cam shoulders I9, 20 thereon are spread apart to a size greater than the socket opening.

As shown in Fig. 3, when axial force is applied to the stud to advance the same to mounted position on the wall member, the tapered. surfaces of the stem undergo a substantial camming action in the socket opening thereby urging the stem sections sufficiently toward each other to permit passage of the same shoulders I9, 20 thereon through the socket opening. During this action, the yieldable arms 22, 23, of the wedging element including pressurefoot 24, are compressed toward flat as necessary at the same time exerting an expansive force serving as an excellent reinforcing medium for supporting the stem sections against breaking or fracture incident to the bending, flexing and other strain taking place in the stem sections, especially in the weakened areas thereof defined by the groovespresenting said cam shoulders I9, 20.

Upon further movement of the stud axially to the applied mounted position thereof shown in Fig. 4, the said cam shoulders suitably clear the socket opening and otherwise become disposed in positive fastening engagement at the reverse side of the support with the bearing surface M of the flange 13 in substantially flush engagement with the front side thereof. In this relation, the arms 22, 23 of the spring wedging element tend to assume their. normal, spaced relation thereby exerting an expansive force on the stem sections to urge the grooves thereon to rigid, positive, holding relation with the socket opening and, more particularly, the cam shoulders I9, 20, to firm, substantially locked engagement with the adjacent corner edges of such socket opening under, what may be termed, a continuously effective spring holding action. It is to be noted that the provision of cam shoulders on the stem sections not only permits the use of a certain size stud with wall members of several thicknesses, but also ensures a positive, self-seating of the stud in rigid, applied position under the expansive action supplied by the spring wedging element to the stem sections in causing the said cam shoulders thereon to ride on the-corner edges of the socket opening to the point of most effective fastening engagement. It is therefore to be appreciated that the spring wedging element is always effective to cause the cam shoulders to compensate for slight clearances and other manufacturing variations in the size of the socket opening-or the thickness of the wall member and likewise, any looseness or play in the connection after a period of use is immediately taken up such that anyinstallation embodying the supporting stud of the present invention is rigid and positive throughout its entire length of service.

On tightening of the supporting stud in its final applied mounted position, it is to be noted that the main part thereof which bears directly on the exposed face of the wall member is the peripheral bearing surface M of the flange l3, the

snap-stud locking action of the connecting stem being effected practically entirely to the reverse side of the wall member, as aforesaid. Thus, the actual bearing area of the stud not only is reduced but extends over a relatively wide portion of the wall member. And since the wall member has usually an enameled porcelain finish, this arrangement is highly advantageous in that when a mounted supporting stud is put to use as by placing an article on the shelf supported thereby, the resultant bending stress transmitted to the wall member is necessarily decreased and distributed over a comparatively large area wherefor danger of cracking or chipping of the enamel is minimized and, in fact, practically eliminated.

Fig. 5 discloses the improved supporting stud as embodied in a modified construction in which the expansive action supplied to the stem sections is brought about by the provision of an integral wedging portion between the split stem sections. Thus the stem 25, integrally provided on a plastic shelf supporting stud substantially similar to that illustrated in the preferred form shown in Figs. 1-4 inclusive, is designed for an initial overall cross-section slightly greater than the size of the socket opening. A groove 26 there- ''on provides a cross-sectional area substantially corresponding to that of the socket opening and presents pronounced shoulders 21, 28 between which the areas adjacent the socket opening in the wall member are received. the shoulder 28 being spaced axially from the bearing surface presented by the peripheral edge l4 of skirt l3, 8. distance substantially equal to the thickness of the wall member for effective positive engagement at the reverse side thereof in the applied mounted position of the supporting stud .as shown.

The said stem 25 is preferably tapered in any suitable manner but is slotted only partially throughout its length as at. 29 to provide the cooperating relatively yieldable stem sections 30-1 and an integral wedging portion 32 therebetween serving to exert an effective expansive action to the stem sections in maintaining the stud in its mounted position on the wall member. Thus, it will be understood that in the application of a shelf supporting stud, knob or the like provided with an integral connecting stem of this character, the spaced relatively yieldable stem sections are compressed toward each other by a substantial camming action of the tapered surfaces thereof with the socket opening on being advanced to home position therein, the slot 29 fully permitting this compressive action of the stem sections as required. When the grooved portion 26 of the stem becomes disposed in the area of the wall member, the shoulders 21, 28, may then snap into firm locking engagement with the adjacent surfaces of the wall member on either side thereof. This snapping action of course, is a direct result of the expansive force supplied to the stem sections by the wedging portion 32 which not only serves to seat the device in the initial application thereof but also acts to maintain the shoulders 21, 28 on the stem sections in rigid, positive engagement in the socket opening at all times.

Figs. 6-9 inclusive show a modified arrangement'of the general combination of parts disclosed in the preferred form of the invention described with reference to Figs. 1-4 inclusive. The construction of the stud and the connecting stem thereon are essentially the same but the device is employed with a spring wedging element capable of axial movement in the assemblyto effect a substantial progressive wedging action of the stem sections to the point at which the cam shoulders thereon are disposed in rigid, positive engagement with the corner edge of the socket opening and the adjacent area of the wall member at the reverse side thereof.

As best seen in Fig. 8, the spring wedging member in this formof the invention includes a T- shaped head 2| in addition to a substantial wedging portio'n comprising yieldable arms 22', 23'. In the use of such a spring wedging element, the said T-shaped head is fitted into the slot I 8 intermediate the stem sections l1, l8, to be fully received within the peripheral skirt I3 of the stud. Thus, as shown in Fig. 6, when the stud assembly is applied to the socket opening, the T-shaped head portion of the wedging member engages the accessible side of the wall member at points beyond the socket opening, see Fig. 9. And as the stud is pushed home to the mounted position represented in Fig. 7, the spring wedging member, by reason of the T-shaped head engaging the front side of the wall member, is drawn axially relative to the stem sections such that the wedging portion thereof, defined by yieldable arms 22', 23', serves to spread the said stem sections and thereby urge the cam shoulders I9, 20 thereon to firm positive engagement with the corner edge of the socket opening and the adjacent area of the wall member at the reverse side thereof, substantially in the manner described with reference to the preferred form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-4 inclusive. Inasmuch as the said wedging portion is yieldable and capable of being compressed toward flat as necessary, the application of the stem sections to applied mounted position shown in Fig. 7, is readily accomplished in a substantial snap-stud action of the cam shoulders in the socket opening; and thus, when the shoulders are once seated the wedging member is necessarily disposed axially of the stem sections at such a point as will ensure a most effective, rigid, positive, locking engagement of the stud in mounted position at all times.

While this invention has been described in detail with specific examples such examples are i1- lustrative only, since it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may be constructed without departing from the teachings or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a supporting stud, knob or the like to be mounted on a wall member provided with a socket opening, said stud comprising a one-piece device including a projecting head portion and an integral substantial snap-stud connecting stem comprising relatively yieldable stem sections insertable through the socket opening in said wall member to applied position from one side thereof, a shoulder provided on at least one of said stem sections, and resilient means intermediate said relatively yieldable stem sections for maintaining the same in tensioned engagement in applied position in said socket opening to seat said shoulder and thereby retain said stud in fixed, rigid mounted position on the wall member. h v

2. As an article of manufacture, a supporting stud, knob or the like to be mounted on a wall member provided with a socket opening, said stud comprising a one-piece device including a projecting head portion and an integral, substantial snap-stud connecting stem comprising relatively yieldable stem sections insertable through the socket opening in said wall member to applied position from one side thereof, a shoulder provided on at least one of said stem sections engageable with the corner edge and adjacent area of the socket opening at the reverse side of said wall member, and a spring metal device intermediate said relatively yieldable stem sections for spreading the same to tensioned engagement in applied position in said socket opening to seat said shoulder in positive fixed relation therewith.

3. As an article of manufacture, a hardened plastic supporting stud, knob or the like to be mounted on a wall member having a socket opening, said stud comprising a one-piece device including a projecting head portion provided with a peripheral skirt and an integral substantial Y snap-stud connecting stern comprising cooperating, relatively yieldable stem sections partly received in said skirt to provide for added flexibility therein, a shoulder provided on at least one of said stern sections engageable with the corner edge and adjacent area of said socket opening at the reverse side of said wall member in applied position, said connecting stem being insertable through the socket opening in the wall member to applied fastening position entirely from one 'side thereof whereby to seat said shoulder under continuously effective tensioned engagement in the socket opening and thereby retain said stud in fixedly mounted position on the wall member.

4. As an article of manufacture, a one-piece supporting stud, knob or the like to be mounted on a Wall member having a socket opening, said stud including a projecting head portion provided with a peripheral skirt, and an integral substantial snap-stud connecting stem comprising relatively yieldable stem sections partly received in said skirt to provide for added flexibility therein, said connecting stem being insertable through said socket opening to applied position mounting the stud on the wall member entirely from one side thereof, a shoulder provided on at least one of said integral stem sections engageable with the corner edge and adjacent area of said socket opening at the reverse side of said wall member in applied position, and a resilient spring metal expanding means intermediate said relatively yieldable stem sections for spreading the same to tensioned engagement in the socket opening to seat said shoulder under continuously effective tensioned engagement in the applied position thereof thereby retaining said stud in firm, fixedly mounted position on the wall membar.

5. As an article of manufacture, a supporting stud, knob or the like to be mounted on a wall member having a socket opening, said stud including a projecting head portion provided with a peripheral skirt, and a substantial snap-stud connecting stem comprising relatively yieldable stem sections partly received in said skirt to provide'for added flexibility therein, a shoulder provided'on at least one of said stem sections engageable with the corner edge and adjacent area of said socket opening at the reverse side of said wall member in applied position mounting the stud, said connecting stem being insertable through said socket opening in applied position mounting the stud on the wall member entirely from one side thereof, and resilient expanding means intermediate said relatively yieldable stem sections for spreading the same to tensioned engagement in the socket opening to seat said shoulder under continuously effective tensioned engagement in the applied position thereof and thereby retain said stud in firm, fixedly mounted position on the wall member, said expanding means comprising a substantial spring metal wedging member adapted to yield in the application of the stem sections to substantial snap-stud fastening engagement in the socket opening.

6. As an article of manufacture, a hardened plastic supporting stud, knob or the like to be mounted on a wall member having a socket opening, said stud including a projecting head portion provided with a peripheral skirt, and an integral, substantial snap-stud connecting stem comprising relatively yieldable stem sections partly received in said skirt to provide for added flexibility thereinfisaid connecting stem being designed for insertion through said socket opening to applied position mounting the stud on the wall member entirely from one side thereof, a shoulder provided on at least one of said stem sections engageable with the corner edge and adjacent area of said socket opening at the reverse side of said wall member in applied position mounting the stud, and resilient expanding means intermediate said relatively yieldable stem sections for spreading the same to tensioned engagement in the socket opening to seat said shoulder under continuously effective tensionedengagement in the applied position thereof and thereby retain said stud in firm, fixedly mounted position on the wall member, said expanding means comprising a substantial spring metal wedging member adapted to yield in the application of the stem sections to substantial snapstud fastening engagement in the socket opening, said wedging member being designed for reinforcing the plastic stem sections against fracture incident to strain taking place therein during the snap-stud fastening engagement thereof in the socket opening.

7. As an article of manufacture, a supporting stud, knob or the like to be mounted on a wall member having a socket opening, said stud including a projecting head portion provided with a peripheral skirt, and a substantial snap-stud connecting stem comprising relatively yieldable stem sections partly receivedin said skirt to provide for added flexibility therein, a shoulder provided on at least one of said stem sections engageable with the corner edge and adjacent area of said socket opening at the reverse side of said wall member in applied position mounting the stud, said connecting stem being insertable through said socket opening to applied position mounting the stud on the wall member entirely from one side thereof, and resilient expanding means intermediate said relatively yieldable stem sections comprising a Wedging portion and a head element bearing upon the wall member whereby uponaxial movement of the stud in the application thereof, said wedging portion is drawn axially of the stem sections to spread the same to tensioned engagement in the socket opening thus seating said shoulder under continuously effective tensioned engagement in the applied position thereof and thereby retaining said stud in firm fixedly mounted position on the wall member.

8. As an article of manufacture, a hardened plastic supporting stud, knob or the like to be mounted on a wall member having a socket opening, said stud including a head portion provided with a skirt and an integral substantial snapstud connecting ste'm comprising split, relatively yieldable stem sections partly received within said skirt, at least one of said stem sections being grooved to present a shoulder engageable with the corner edge and adjacent area of said socket opening at the reverse side of said wall member in applied position mounting the stud, and resilient expanding means disposed between said split, relatively yieldable stem sections adapted to spread the same to tensioned engagement in the socket opening whereby to seat said shoulder under continuously tensioned engagement in the applied position thereof and thereby retain said stud in firm fixedly mounted position on the wall member, said expanding means comprising a substantially V-shaped sheet metal spring wedging member adapted to yield in the application of the stem sections to substantial snap-stud fastening engagement in the socket opening.

9. As an article of manufacture, a supporting stud, knob or the like to be mounted on a wall member having a socket opening, said stud including a projecting head portion and a connecting stem comprising relatively yieldable stem sections, a shoulder provided on at least one of said stem sections engageable with the corner edge and adjacent area of said socket opening at the reverse side of said wall member in applied position mounting the stud, said connecting stem being insertable through said socket opening to applied position mounting the stud on the wall member entirely from one side thereof, and resilient expanding means intermediate said relatively yieldable stem sections comprising a spring metal device having a yieldable wedging portion, said wedging portion, in the application of the stud to mounted position, being compressed and thereafter expanding to spread the stem sections to tensioned engagement in the socket opening and thereby seat said shoulder under continuously effective tensioned engagement in the applied position thereof whereby to retain said stud in firm,-fixedly mounted position on the wall member.

GEORGE A. TINNERMAN. 

